MEMBER ITEMS FOR SALE
Custom Knives | Other Knives | General Items
-------------------------------------------
New Posts | New PhotosAll Photos



Go Back   The Knife Network Forums : Knife Making Discussions > Custom Knife Discussion Boards > Knife Making Discussions > Fit & Finish

Fit & Finish Fit and Finish = the difference in "good art" and "fine art." Join in, as we discuss the fine art of finish and embellishment.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 02-08-2013, 10:47 PM
Hempish Hempish is offline
Steel Addict
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Miles City,MT
Posts: 195
Red face African Black wood

Got some awesomw black wood from jdale and have nevere worked wigth anything like it. I -noticed how dense it was right away and thought it kinda resembled an oak or walnut. Just kinda curious if anyone on here has any expierence finishing this stuff and what might be the best way to do so.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 02-09-2013, 08:15 AM
Ed Caffrey's Avatar
Ed Caffrey Ed Caffrey is offline
Super Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Great Falls, Montana, USA
Posts: 4,393
Send a message via AIM to Ed Caffrey Send a message via Yahoo to Ed Caffrey
I use a LOT of Blackwood. Personally, I thinks it's about as close to the ideal knife handle wood there is. It's easy to work, carve, texture, and unlike ebony, it rarely will check or crack.

When finishing Blackwood, keep it simple. Don't try to use any "coatings", just take it to a 600+ grit hand finish, then give it a light buff with pink no-scratch compound. The only "final" finish I use on it is a good coat of caranuba wax.

Again, personally, I've used both plain and stabilized blackwood, and find that I like plain/unstabilized blackwood much better.....the stabilized blackwood always seems to end up with a "hazy" finish, and did not have the "depth" of unstabilized blackwood.


__________________
WWW.CAFFREYKNIVES.NET

Caffreyknives@gmail.com

"Every CHOICE has a CONSEQUENCE, and all your CONSEQUENCES are a result of your CHOICES."
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 02-09-2013, 12:59 PM
Hempish Hempish is offline
Steel Addict
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Miles City,MT
Posts: 195
Thanks Ed that's kind of what I was thinking of doing but wasn't sure. Haven't ever used anything quite this exotic. I accidentally deleted your shop number And was wonder if you could pm it to me again. Would love to talk one of these days.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 02-09-2013, 08:36 PM
GHEzell's Avatar
GHEzell GHEzell is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: North Alabama
Posts: 591
I just wanted to agree with Ed, it is by far my favorite wood for knife handles and a joy to work with.


__________________
A good friend told me one time about forging "What is there not to like, you get to break all the rules you were told as a kid, don't play with that it is sharp, don't play with fire, and don't beat on that"
Wade Holloway


See some of my work.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 02-12-2013, 02:39 PM
Gary Mulkey's Avatar
Gary Mulkey Gary Mulkey is offline
Guru
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Branson, Mo
Posts: 1,129
I can't disagree with the views here about using blackwood but I wouldn't go so far as to say that it is a joy to work with. It is the only wood that really hurts my sinuses when breathing the sanding dust. Even ironwood & snakewood are mild in comparison for me.

Ed,

You're the first that I have heard of to try stabilizing it. Does it actually absorb enough of the resins to make a difference?

Gary


__________________
Gary
ABS,CKCA, ABKA,KGA
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 01-15-2017, 12:33 AM
TheKnifeFanatic TheKnifeFanatic is offline
Registered
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: South Africa
Posts: 9
Coming from South Africa, I mainly work with the woods that we get here... African blackwood is definitely one the hardest woods here (and worldwide!) and I general tend to stay away from it for there is a huge variety of other native woods that I personally think are more decorative and easier to work with such as white stinkwood, iroko, tamboti (this is the best, even though it is toxic to work with!)
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 01-15-2017, 11:32 AM
Doug Lester Doug Lester is offline
Hall of Famer
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Decatur, IL
Posts: 2,612
I love African Blackwood too. Just be aware that the saw dust from it will stain clothes so don't go sanding it wearing a good T-shirt or it will become a shop T-shirt real fast.

Also has anyone read anything concrete about it and the rest of the Rosewood genus going on the CITES schedual?

Doug


__________________
If you're not making mistakes then you're not trying hard enough
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 01-20-2017, 08:04 PM
jimmontg jimmontg is offline
Guru
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Now live in Las Cruces NM.
Posts: 1,345
Doug I haven't seen it going to the CITES deal yet and Woodcraft still sells it. It is a very hard and nice wood. Only desert ironwood is supposed to be harder, but they both wear out my band saw blades rather quickly. Made a handle for my g-son and turned out nice.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
band saw, blades, desert ironwood, dust, easy, handle, ironwood, knife, knife handle, made, make, rosewood, sanding, scratch, shop, simple, stabilizing, wax, white, wood, woods


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
ostrich & leather sheath black on black Fred.Rowe The Sheath/Holster Makers Forum 12 01-16-2007 10:29 PM
Black Wood Bowie Jeff Higgins The Display Case 4 10-03-2005 12:37 AM
African Weapons Gene Chapman The Outpost 15 03-11-2004 02:14 PM
Black & Wood = BLACKWOOD! Coop747 The Display Case 11 04-26-2002 10:12 PM
African blacksmith nifeman The Outpost 5 01-08-2002 12:14 PM


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:32 AM.




KNIFENETWORK.COM
Copyright © 2000
? CKK Industries, Inc. ? All Rights Reserved
Powered by ...

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
The Knife Network : All Rights Reserved